For the birds: Shipman Youth Center volunteers help out at Henry’s Woods

March 11, 2011

LAKE PLACID — The Adirondack Park is home to many year-round resident birds: Crows and ravens, grosbeaks, Kinglets, gray jays and cross-billed woodpeckers.

And some of these birds, among others, might be a little more noticeable at Henrys Woods in Lake Placid, a 212-acre parcel of land off of Bear Cub Lane named for Henry Uihlein.

Bird feeders, installed by children from the Shipman Youth Center, are a recent addition to the 2.5-mile loop through the woods behind the Uihlein Mercy Center.

“We think it’ll be a really nice thing for Henry’s Woods,” said Shipman Youth Director John Fremante. “It’s already an incredible place to be ... this might just make it a little more interesting for some people.”

Shipman Board President Dmitry Feld often walks through Henry’s Woods, Fremante said. One day, he came to the realization that the trail system is not home to very much wildlife.

“The Uihlein Foundation supplied the bird feeders and the kids put them up — with a little help from myself,” Fremante said.

Fremante said a wildlife expert was consulted to make sure the feeders wouldn’t cause any harm to local bird populations, or disrupt migration patterns.

“We also didn’t want them to have an impact on the trail, so we made sure (the feeders) were, for the most part, out of sight,” Fremante said. “To give it a little more of a natural look.”

Which was a difficult task in waist-deep snow, he added.

“I’d say ... it was cold,” said Cody, a member of the Shipman Youth Center. “There was a whole lot of snow.”

Although Fremante pointed out that getting youths to participate in community service is not always the easiest task, the Shipman Youth Center will continue to fill the bird feeders for the rest of the winter. Late in the spring the feeders will be removed, Fremante said.

“We try to do little projects like this throughout the community whenever we can,” he said.

Article Photos

Cameron Shipman, Emily Barney and Kayla Mullins pictured during a recent trip to Henry’s Woods to help out with the placement of bird feeders.